Advice for a research newbie: Find your voice
So, you have made up your mind to pursue a career in research or academia? But, you are completely lost where to start? How can you fit into this grave and daunting field where everyone has publication lists longer than yours? Hopefully, you read this post when you still are preparing to write a postgraduation thesis . I’m not saying if you read it later, then it won’t be helpful, but it would help you find your spot in this (sometimes brutal) field if you read it sooner than later. If you have just woken up to the field of research, then let the ones who have been here for a while tell you how vast (almost infinite) the extent of this field is? Research is driven mainly by human curiosity, and I guess we all know that curiosity existed even when the Garden of Eden existed. So, I guess the first research was Eve trying to find out the effects of biting an apple on Adam. Jokes apart, the first thing that hits you in the face about research is that there in unending chattering of a huge crowd of authors. Intimidating, isn’t it? How can you manage to make a place for yourself, you ask? How can you make your voice be heard and the rest of the people in your field listen? It’s easy. Find your own voice. You have a unique and authentic voice so let it be heard, and people will listen. Although I understand how finding your own voice in academics might appear a tad bit confusing because no one actually can give a simple answer to questions about voice. You might end up leaving with many more questions than what you had arrived with. “Voice” is described as the sound made by the larynx and uttered through the mouth as a speech or song, but I am not talking about that voice. The voice that I am talking about is best defined by the novelist Francine Prose in a Los Angeles Times article “ Voice is the result of every major and minor choice an author makes , from decisions about point of view, tone, style, diction, vocabulary to decisions about which details to include or omit and even whether a sentence should end in a period or an exclamation point .” This is by far, the most comprehensive yet most precise definition of voice that I have come across yet. The complexity of the nature of a researcher’s voice has led to most researchers refraining from
talking about it. But, is it a good idea to ignore it? At an age when the publication list of most researchers is longer than the years you have been in research and your chances at a job depends on yours, can we afford to ignore talking about your voice? I know you must be wondering if there is even a place for your voice and the answer is a simple, uncomplicated “Yes, of course.” Although during your graduation you are taught to duplicate the style of a wellknown published author , you must focus on building your credibility as an academic writer in your discipline using your own voice. I understand academic writing is far more limited than creative writing. The specific conventions in your discipline and then the requirements of the target journals probably makes you feel locked in a tower, but there are ways to work around all these high and mighty walls and yet follow all these conventions. These conventions exist to inculcate structure and uniformity in our writing structure and not to crush our writing style. The book “ Stylish Academic Writing ” by Helen Sword shares many ways of effective writing and how to articulate your arguments with precision and conviction. You do not have to share your personal views or information that is not related to your topic to find your authentic voice because it is not about personal revelation. It is rather about revealing your professional identity through what you write. It is about professing your professional beliefs. It’s about finding common ground between your point of view and the conventions of your field. You cannot ignore the requirements of your target journal or your target audience if you intend to get published. Plus, your language usage will basically mold your professional identity and you voice lets the world know of your concerns, commitments, and expertise. For example, will you place your original claims and insight after the long list of acknowledgements or will you place it front and center? Will you confidently talk about your understanding of previous literature or will you cover your insights with the wellknown author’s findings? Will you hide behind the words like “may” or “might” or come out and state your beliefs with conviction? You have a clear choice at how you wish to appear in front of your colleagues or your target audience . The small choices you make while writing your research paper will eventually build your voice among the scholars in your field so be mindful, particularly if it’s your first impression. So, untangle the web of specialised language, conventions, and vernacular expression and use it to strengthen your voice.
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